Globe Telecom brings WiFi connectivity to Puerto Princesa Underground River

(L-R) Globe Business Industry Sales Head John Paul Duterte, Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo Bayron, Puerto Princesa Subterranean National River Park Superintendent Elizabeth Maclang, and Globe Business Sr. Account Manager Mar Pedrajas at the discussion session for the launching of the free WiFi service at the Puerto Princesa Underground River

Globe Telecom, through its enterprise Information and Communications Technology (ICT) arm Globe Business, and the Local Government of Puerto Princesa, Palawan joined hands recently to provide free WiFi connectivity at the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP), a world heritage site and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

With this partnership, the UNESCO heritage site becomes the first-ever national park with managed WiFi in the Philippines, allowing tourists to enjoy WiFi connectivity in Sabang Wharf and in the registration area at the cave entrance, as part of the commitment of the Protected Area management Board (PAMB) in giving convenience to all stakeholders visiting PPUR.

Mayor Lucilo Bayron, in his message delivered by Councilor Matthew Mendoza, said the WiFi connectivity within the city’s tourist destination would help bring Puerto Princesa’s tourism to the next level.

“Through real-time uploading of photos and videos taken by our visitors, the Puerto Princesa Underground River will be seen by more tourists around the world.  We see this service as a good promotion and advertisement tool as the guests can update their social media accounts right away,” he said.

PPSRNP comprises an area of approximately 22, 702 hectares and contains a spectacular limestone karst landscape including an 8.2 kilometer-long underground river.  The highlight of this subterranean river system is that it flows directly to the sea with its brackish lower half subjected to tidal influence thereby, distinguishing it as a significant natural global phenomenon.     

Peter Maquera, Globe Senior Vice President for the Enterprise Group, shares that such initiatives are always executed with the mindset of creating a Globe of Good.

“The goal of supporting Puerto Princesa City with this capability is to ensure that we go beyond being a service provider. Nation building and eGovernance have always been among the sustainability thrusts of Globe Business and we are proud that we were chosen by Puerto Princesa City for this ground-breaking project,” Maquera said.

Globe Business is leading the way in encouraging Local Government Units to adopt the integration of ICT and governance as a means of improving the delivery of government services and exchange of information. The said initiative supports Globe Telecom’s drive to transform the Philippines into a digital nation by instilling the importance of eGovernance to offices ranging from local government units up to the national government.